The Best New Headphones for Travelers

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

Smart Sensors

The ultralight Plantronics BackBeat Sense will outlast the world’s longest nonstop flight, delivering up to 18 hours of continuous use on a single charge. Among the secrets to its long battery life: sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off. Buy them for $129.

Sam Kaplan

Hands-free 2.0

If you’re wearing Muzik Convertible headphones, chances are you’ll never need to reach for your phone. Buttons on the right-hand cup allow you to switch tracks, adjust volume, activate speed dial, or answer an incoming call. Buy them for $175.

Sam Kaplan

Better Beats

Standard Bluetooth technology limits the amount of data that can be transmitted, resulting in lower-quality sound. But Sony’s new Hear On headset can transfer three times as much data, delivering a fuller, more rounded listening experience. Buy them for $200.

Sam Kaplan

Noises Off

Noise cancelling needs differ whether you’re on a plane or at Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing. That’s why JBL built NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling Technology into its Everest Elite 300—it lets you adjust how much ambient noise you’d like to let in, if any at all. Buy them for $250.